Advantages

Disadvantages

A wonderful little point and shoot camera.

---The Overview---

This camera is equipped with 4x optical zoom and 10.0 Megapixels. It's a small device, just bigger than a pack of cards. The is a usual point and shoot with reference to fact that it doesn't have a viewfinder instead you use the almost 3 inch LCD screen that is on the back of the camera. This camera does include a flash.

---The Exterior---

The version of this camera that I have is mostly silver with some black accents. This camera is really easy to hold, even with just one hand. It's got comfortable ergonomics about it that make it easy to take pictures continually for a period of time. Changing the mode (i.e. changing from Automatic mode to landscape or portrait mode) is easy and obvious using the turn dial on the top of the camera. The symbols used to represent different modes are typical of canon products and are pretty easy to understand, even without looking at the manual. This camera includes a bunch of different modes that make shooting any kind of situation simple and straightforward. Some of the modes that I have used most include the night-shooting mode, landscape, automatic (of course), and kids pets (more about the operation of these in the Usability & Camera Ability section).

The front of this camera is simple and uncluttered with the lens, flash, and the cannon name (along with other small indications like the zoom and megapixel abilities). The back of the camera has a beautiful nearly 3 inch (I think it's like 2.7 inches) LCD screen that is used as a viewfinder and to display settings and images you have captured. Also on the back you will find the controls for zoom, functional settings, display, menu, etc... These controls are easy to use and have images on them that are indicative of their function (very user friendly).

---Usability & Camera Ability---

Most of my shooting has been done in the Automatic mode that is indicated by a green oval with the word 'auto' on the turn dial that is located on the top of the camera (as I mentioned earlier). This mode is incredibly user friendly. Basically if you point the camera and push the capture button it will do everything necessary to create the most technically correct photograph. You can use this mode pretty much straight out of the box and not even have to read the instructions to begin shooting ( you should definitely read the instructions though, they have really informative stuff in there).

One thing that I really love about this little camera is that it you don't have to switch into a macro mode. As soon as you get close enough to a subject it automatically allows to photograph that subject in macro. Another thing that I find really lovely is that this camera doesn't take traditional batteries, it has a lithium ion battery that seems to charge really quickly! I like this feature because it eliminates battery waste. This camera also takes a SD card for expanded storage, and that's great because SD cards are super common and have come down in price by far!

All of the modes on this camera seem to work very well and you can switch between them easily. One mode that I have used quite a bit that I didn't even think about when I bought the camera is the video mode, which takes pretty nice video with respect to the size of this camera.

---Conclusion--- This little camera is a great point and shoot. It has great ease of use and provides many user friendly functions that I think almost anybody could use without a problem. I would suggest this to anyone who is looking to buy a point and shoot that has great performance for under $100.

Comments

Advantages

Reliability

Reliability

Disadvantages

Great for the casual photographer, a little basic for the more adventurous.

Digital cameras don't last forever. Having previously owned Canon digital cameras in the past I decided to stick with the brand as I trust their quality, both in the product itself and the resulting imagery. The Canon Powershot A3000 IS seemed to fit the bill perfectly with its large 2.7" screen and sleek and stylish design. I find that a lot of Canon cameras are outstanding in the looks department, I have also learnt they are great at taking pictures with too!

The canon Powershot A3000 IS is available for around the £100-£120 mark generally online, but Argos currently have it for sale at £57.99, down from £69.99, so the price can vary greatly depending where you shop. The body of the A3000 IS is slimline and also fairly light, making it easy to carry and store in a bag or pocket. The 10 megapixel camera captures high detail images and comes with a 4x optical zoom. There are no trickyl or fiddly settings, so shots are simple to take. Intelligent scene mode ensures you are able to capture a high quality image due to its ability to detect the type of image you are viewing. An optical image stabilizer and motion detection technology are also at hand to allow you to take the best quality images regardless of your ability.

The body of the A3000 IS is predominantly silver, with a strip of black down one side. I like the styling of the camera, and the large screen is also excellent for both getting a good, accurante shot, and also for managign the images you have just taken. This digital camera is compatible with SD cards and this allows you to transfer the images easily to your PC/laptop, but also means you can store endless numbers of images at your leisure.

The Canon Powershot A3000 IS is very easy to use and I have never had any issues with the quality of pictures, or the simplicity of capturing them in the first place. Battery life is also respectable, meaning I can go away for the day without the worry to conserve battery power. A rechargeable battery is included in the package which is simple to recharge when you are not using the camera. I am really looking forward to using the Canon Powershot A3000 IS on my next expedition abroad. Cameras can be vital to the enjoyment of a trip, especially to countries you just know you will never return. A very reasonably priced digital camera that with make capturing terrific moments a pleasure.